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Ok to mix 12/2 and 14/2 wire to a 20 amp breaker or 15 amp breaker?

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Ok to mix 12/2 and 14/2 wire to a 20 amp breaker or 15 amp breaker? chrisc 05-07-2008
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Posted by chrisc on May 7, 2008, 11:26 pm
The wiring is all over the place in this house. For example a bathroom fan
is on 14/2 wire going to a 15 amp breaker. And a bathroom outlet is 12/2
going to a 20 amp breaker. I want to put both on the same circuit and make
everything more neat and organized. Which breaker can they not go on if
combined? Can't remember how the rules go. Is one unsafe cause the wires can
get too hot. Thanks a lot.



Posted by on May 7, 2008, 11:40 pm
Others will answer but I can get you started.

1) I believe the bathroom outlet is required to have a dedicated 20
amp circuit by current code. So don't touch it. Do not combine these
circuits.

2) A 20 amp breaker requires 12 awg. So never use 14 AWG in a 20 amp
circuit.

3) 12 awg is okay to use with a 15 amp breaker.

Posted by Calab on May 8, 2008, 12:17 am
> The wiring is all over the place in this house. For example a bathroom fan is
> on 14/2 wire going to a 15 amp breaker. And a bathroom outlet is 12/2 going
> to a 20 amp breaker. I want to put both on the same circuit and make
> everything more neat and organized. Which breaker can they not go on if
> combined? Can't remember how the rules go. Is one unsafe cause the wires can
> get too hot. Thanks a lot.

Well, you could pull the 12/2 out, replacing it with 14/2, and then use
a 15amp breaker, or you could pull out the 14/2, replacing it with
12/2, and use a 20amp breaker.

You CAN'T mix gauges and not break code.

Example... You have 12/2 on a 15 amp breaker. Later on someone wants to
install a wall heater. They pull an outlet out and find 12 gauge
wiring. They assume that it's good for 20 amps and install it.

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Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on May 8, 2008, 5:55 am

>> The wiring is all over the place in this house. For example a bathroom
>> fan is
>> on 14/2 wire going to a 15 amp breaker. And a bathroom outlet is 12/2
>> going to a 20 amp breaker. I want to put both on the same circuit and
>> make everything more neat and organized. Which breaker can they not go on
>> if combined? Can't remember how the rules go. Is one unsafe cause the
>> wires can get too hot. Thanks a lot.

That is the correct way, so don't change it. If you hair dryer goes out, you
don't want the lights to go out with it and be left in the dark. Your "neat
and organized" may be a code violation so find out what good practice is
before proceeding. . .



Posted by on May 8, 2008, 9:31 am
> > The wiring is all over the place in this house. For example a bathroom f=
an is
> > on 14/2 wire going to a 15 amp breaker. And a bathroom outlet is 12/2 go=
ing
> > to a 20 amp breaker. I want to put both on the same circuit and make
> > everything more neat and organized. Which breaker can they not go on if
> > combined? Can't remember how the rules go. Is one unsafe cause the wires=
can
> > get too hot. Thanks a lot.
>
> Well, you could pull the 12/2 out, replacing it with 14/2, and then use
> a 15amp breaker, or you could pull out the 14/2, replacing it with
> 12/2, and use a 20amp breaker.
>
> You CAN'T mix gauges and not break code.
>
> Example... You have 12/2 on a 15 amp breaker. Later on someone wants to
> install a wall heater. They pull an outlet out and find 12 gauge
> wiring. They assume that it's good for 20 amps and install it.

There is no code violation in using a lower gauge wire. You can use
12 gauge on a 15amp circuit. If you were adding a major load, it
would be pretty stupid to not check the breaker size. Plus, for most
people, checking the breaker is easier than trying to determine the
wire gauge. Even if they did do what you suggested, it's not a
safety hazard. The breaker will trip without the wire being
overloaded.

If you use a wire less than required, then you have a safety problem.




>
> --
> Fight Usenet Spam!!! -http://improve-usenet.org:80/
>
> Want a good newsgroup reader that will filter out GoogleGroups spam?
> Try MesNews -http://www.mesnews.net/gb/
>
> If you want your posts to be seen, DON'T USE GOOGLE GROUPS!


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